‘Creativity gurus”, “brand Sherpas”, “data shamans”: whether you’re an employer or an employee, a quick glance at the world of LinkedIn can make you want to log off immediately. The social media site with a career-driven core used to be a hunting ground for recruiters, a playground for humble-braggers, and a snooper’s paradise – but it has changed in recent years with attempts to regain focus on expertise and opinion, rather than simply self-promotion.
Despite this, some users continue to post so-called “LinkedIn icks”, as identified by marketing agency The Audit Lab. Common examples include putting an overextensive list of qualifications after your name; making instant sales pitches; and delivering a blizzard of buzzwords, inspirational quotes and toxic positivity. All these are not just irritants for other users, but red flags for potential employers, too.
